Forensic Science Facts

• Forensic science uses a range of sciences to answer questions related to legal situations.
• Forensic science is often used in relation to criminal matters, a lawyer may want to prove someone was present at the location of a crime for example.
• Samples from a crime scene are analyzed in a laboratory by specialists.
• Samples can include things like fingerprints, hair and gunshot residue.
• While some forensic tests can be completed in as little as an hour, others may take months. There are a large range of specialist fields in forensics including forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, forensic anthropology, forensic chemistry, DNA analysis, forensic entomology, computational forensics and more.
• In the case of forensic entomology, scientists examine insects found in and around human remains to determine the time of death.
• Forensic toxicology studies the effect of drugs and poisons on the human body in relation to medical and legal situations.
• The famous fictional character Sherlock Holmes used forensic science as one of his methods for investigating crimes.
• Examples of forensic science can be found throughout popular culture, including television shows such as CSI, Bones, NCIS, Law & Order and the Mentalist, which all use forensic science as part of their story lines.
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has been particularly popular, leading to a number of spin off shows, books and video games. It has even created a so called 'CSI effect' where members of the public have exaggerated expectations of forensic science due to their use on television shows.